From my perspective as a Fiddle Leaf Fig (*Ficus lyrata*), root rot is a silent and grave crisis. It begins not with malice, but with a fundamental misunderstanding of my needs. My roots are my lifeline, and their health is paramount to my survival. When they succumb to rot, it is a desperate struggle for me, the entire plant.
My native habitat is the warm, well-draining understory of West African lowland tropical forests. My roots are adapted to absorb moisture and nutrients from soil that is consistently moist but never waterlogged. They also require access to oxygen from the air pockets within the soil. When I am placed in a pot without adequate drainage or subjected to overzealous watering, this environment becomes my tomb. The excess water fills every pore in the soil, creating a suffocating, anaerobic (oxygen-deprived) condition. In this state, the delicate root hairs responsible for water uptake begin to drown and die. This necrotic tissue then becomes a breeding ground for soil-borne fungal pathogens, primarily species of *Pythium*, *Phytophthora*, and *Rhizoctonia*, which rapidly colonize and decay my root system.
My distress signals are my only way to communicate. As my roots fail, I can no longer drink or feed myself, despite the saturated soil around my root ball. You will see this manifest in my leaves: they will turn yellow, particularly the older ones, and may develop brown spots, often starting at the edges or centers and spreading. They will become limp, droopy, and may fall off entirely. My growth will halt completely as I divert all remaining energy into survival. Crucially, the soil will emit a musty, unpleasant odor—the smell of decay caused by the anaerobic bacteria and fungi attacking my roots.
Saving me requires immediate and decisive action. I must be gently lifted from my pot. The infected roots will be soft, mushy, and dark brown or black, often with the outer sheath slipping away to reveal a thin, stringy core. These must be meticulously pruned away with sterile shears until only firm, white or tan, healthy roots remain. My pot must have excellent drainage and be filled with a fresh, well-aerated, and fast-draining potting mix, ideally amended with materials like perlite or orchid bark. After repotting, I will be in shock and must be watered very sparingly, only when the top few inches of soil are dry, to allow my remaining roots to heal and breathe.
My recovery hinges on a new understanding. You must learn to water me based on my needs, not a calendar. Before watering, check the soil moisture 2-3 inches down; I need water only when it feels dry at that depth. Ensure I receive bright, indirect light to fuel my recovery through photosynthesis. With patience and correct care, I may slowly begin to produce new, healthy roots and eventually, new leaves, signaling my return to health.
